Haji Ali Dargah

हाजी अली दरगाह

A 15th-century Sufi saint's tomb and mosque on a small island in the sea, reachable only at low tide via a 500-meter causeway, with its white dome seeming to float on the Arabian Sea.

Haji Ali Dargah is the tomb and mosque of Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, a 15th-century Sufi saint and merchant from Bukhara. Construction began in 1431. It sits on a rock in Worli Bay and is connected to the mainland by a causeway about 500 meters long. At high tide the causeway is submerged, and the mosque appears to float on the sea. At low tide, worshippers and visitors walk along the causeway, flanked by beggars and vendors selling flowers and sweets. The architecture is Indo-Islamic, with a white marble dome and a 26-meter minaret. The inner chamber's sacred tomb is covered with red and green brocade, and the main hall has pillars inlaid with mirror work. People of all faiths may enter, with men and women in separate areas. Admission is free. Opening hours are about 5:30 to 22:00. On Thursday and Friday evenings there are qawwali devotional performances, which create the most atmospheric time to visit.

Getting there: a taxi from the seafront boulevard takes about 15 minutes, or take a taxi to the Haji Ali junction and walk from there. Across the way are the Mahalakshmi Temple and the racecourse.

Tips: Check the day's tide times first, since the causeway is passable for about 2–3 hours either side of low tide. Come at dusk during low tide, and after your visit, stop at the Haji Ali Juice Centre next door for fresh fruit juice, a famous Mumbai spot.

Notes: Shoes must be removed. Women should cover their heads, and everyone should cover shoulders and knees. The causeway has no railings and is slippery, and it is closed during high monsoon waves. Photography is prohibited in the inner chamber. Avoid disturbing worshippers during prayer times.

Haji Ali Dargah

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby